Atisha Pratap Rudy, 15
Daughter of Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and homemaker Neelam
She is confused about what exactly she wants to do when she grows up but Atisha, daughter of Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and homemaker Neelam, is clear that she wants to work for the country. This does not mean that “I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and join politics. There are many ways of doing things for the country and politics is just one of them,” Atisha clarifies.
“It is important for people in India, and particularly in Delhi, to change their mindset. Most of the time, poor people think that they cannot change the world. But that is wrong thinking. Everybody can make a difference if he or she wants to. There is no point in Delhi becoming a Smart City if there is no change in people’s mindsets,” she feels.
At present, it’s her extra-curricular activities that bring the 15-year-old most joy. First, there is football, which she plays and loves. The Class XI student of Sanskriti School is also a Kuchipudi dancer, with several performances to her credit. She also loves photography. Her biggest passion, however, is travelling. “It is my wish to travel everywhere and see everything that is to be seen in the world,” she says.
When Atisha is not pursuing her hobbies, she hangs out with her older sister Avshreya (17), a student of Delhi University. With her father mostly busy with work, it is her mother to whom she turns for companionship and guidance.
What does Smart City mean to you?
A Smart City is a place, which offers all the facilities that residents need—better government machinery, water conservation, big institutions.
What would you do to improve the city if you were Delhi’s Chief Minister?
The thing that needs to change most is the mindset of the people. You can make and implement laws, but the mindset needs to change across all strata of society.
Things you like about Delhi.
I love the history attached to the city, the different kinds of people who live here, infrastructure and the happening markets.
Things you don’t like about the city.
I hate the pollution, the over-population, the dirt, the heavy traffic and the partiality the system has to powerful people.
Do you think Delhi is or can be a Smart City?
Of course. Being the capital, Delhi has all the potential to be a Smart City.